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UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn,

ADAM C. HENDRICKS, OF MARTINSBURG, VEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO ADAM FITZ,OF SAME PLACE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFIOATION forming part of Letters 1 atent No. 440,919, datedNovember 18, 1890. Application filed Inne 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,742.(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM O. I-IENDRIcKs, a citizen of the United States,residing in Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley, in the State of TestVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, ofwhich the following is a correct description. The invention consists incertain novel parts or combinations of parts in or in conro nection witha gate and its fastenings, as will first be particularly described, andafterward specifically indicated in the concluding` paragraphs of thisspecification.

In the aocompauying drawings, which constitute a part of thisdescription, Figure 1 represents a detail front elevation of a gate andits gate-head or catch-post to which Iny improvements are applied,showing` an edge or side view of the latch-plate, its wheel, its stop,and its latch-lifting levers, and showing also a front view of thecatch-plate. Fig. 2 is a detail end elevation of the gate-that is, aview at a right angle to that seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side View ofthe catch-plate. Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation similar to the view.seen in Fig. 2, the interior parts being exposed by lthe removal of thefriction-wheel and its journal-plate. Fig. 5 represents the rear orinner face of the journal-plate. t Fig. 6 is a top plan view of thecatch detached.

The gate B is here shown as composed of front and rear Vertical bars band b' and intermediate horizontal rails bg; but it may be constructedin any other convenicnt manner. The main or base plate o, of the latchA, which is secured to the free end of the gate, preferably at about itsmid-height, has near its upper extremity proj ecting wings orguideplates a' and (L2, and near its lower extremity 40 it has a fixedhorizontally-arranged arm or stop (L3. Vithin the space embraced betweenthe guide-wings (1,2 (L3 is loosely received the latch properA', whichis frame-like, as shown, and consists of a top bar, cross-head, orleverplate at, side bars 0,5 and 05", and base-bar a,

which is provided with a bottoin engaginglug 0,7 and with a side stopas. The upper extrennity of the latch A' has a perforation a, whichreceives a lifting-rod a, which at its opposite extremity is connectedto an arm Z of a pivoted level' L, which is mounted in any suitablebearing Z' upon the upper portion of the gate. Immediately below thecross-head of,4 is the segmental or D-shaped lever-head (W, the shank ofwhich extends horizontally rearward from the end of the gate andterminates in a suitable Operating handle or lever a. Extendinghorizon-tally outward from the plate a immediately below the leverheadot12 is an arm or shaft a, which at its outer extremity is threaded, andwhich receives the journalplate J, the projecting sleeve j of which inturn receives the antifriction Wheel VV of the latch, which is retainedby nut w upon the outer extremity of the shaft. A suitable spring s,seated upon the cross-bar or base-bar af* of the latch, bears by itsopposite extremity against the shaft a. 4

The catch O has a base or securing lug c, which is provided with aVertical slot'c', by which and its securing-bolt O' the catch is madeadjustable up or down, and it preferably has also a rearwardly-extendingfiange or rim. 02, which enters a slot g in the catchpost or gate-head Gto render the connection of the catch more firrn. Theoutwardly-extending body O2 of the catch has upon one of its Verticalfaces at about the .mid-height thereof a horizontal supporting-way 03,which is provided above and below with one or more retaining` lugs orcatches C4 to receive the lug a7 of the latch A', and it has also at itsouter extremity a double incline c. The duplication of the engagingparts of the catch adapts it to be employed in connection with eitherright-hand or left-hand gates.

It will be observed:l that in the operation of the latch the force ofthe spring` s acts to press the latch AI downward, so that in closingthe gate engagement with the catch 04 will be certain, and that in theupward movement of the latch the engageinent of the stop as upon theside of the latch with its coincident wing a' prevents'the latch frommoving too far in that direction. It will also be noted that through theprovision of the wheel XV' the engagement with the upper surface of thecatch is effected without appreciable friction, even when a very heavygate is employed, the wheel moving to its seat in unison With themovement of the lug (L7 up the incline c14 and into its seat behind itscatch 04. It will IOO further be observed that the space between theWheel W and the arm or stop as is exactly equal to the Vertical extentof the catch, so that the gate is held against upward movement andunlatching by the action of high Winds or by restless and meddlesomeanimals.

If the latch be applied to an ordinary yard or garden gate, the pivotedlever L may be dispensed With; but ordinarily both this and the lowerlever will be provided, the upper lever being readily operated by ahorseman', thus obviating the necessity for disniounting when passingfrom field to field.

It will be perceived that except When the gate is open its latch end isby the Wheel VV Wholly supported by the catch, so that any tendency tosag is wholly avoided.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed is-- 1. In agate-latch, a catch, as O, having slotted base, and a double-inclinedlatchway provided with retaining lugs Ior notches above and below,Whereby the catch is made reversible and adapted for use in connectionWith either right-hand or left-hand gates, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The plate a, having guide-Wings az and ars, the latch A' within theguide-Wings, and the partially-revoluble lever or handle a, having camor segment-al head a in engagement Wit-11 the latch and operable toelevate the same, in combination, substantially as specified.

3. The vertically-movable latch A' having lug (17 and side stop as, theshaft aw, and the spring s, engaging the latch and bearing against theshaft, in combination.

4. rFhe catch O, having lugs C4, and the latch A' movable up or downupon the plate a and provided with top lifting-lever L and Withpartially-revoluble lever dn, in combination, substantially as describedand shown.

ADAM O. HENDRIOKS.

Witnesses:

L. DE Wirr GERHARDT, ODIN P. EICHELBERGER.

